Greetings, my friends! I hope you have been enjoying this series of interviews with mystery writers: Carole Price, Ann Parker, Staci McLaughlin and Penny Warner as much as I have. Hopefully, your desk has a stack of their fun books on it, all from your local independent bookstore (I love our own Towne Center Books in Pleasanton). Or perhaps you’ve got your Kindle or Nook filled from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Either way, these ladies of mystery have been delight, both to read and to meet. I’m going to be sad when we finish off next week with our final author, the fabulous Penny Warner, author of “How to Dine on Killer Wine.”

The Murder in the Valley Book Signing Tour is also drawing to a close, but it’s not too late to get up close and personal with these amazing writers!

November 11th at 2pm, Carole Price and Staci McLaughlin will be speaking at the Livermore Library, located at 1188 South Livermore Avenue in Livermore.

This week I am excited to introduce Livermore author, Staci McLaughlin. Her first book, “Going Organic Can Kill You” is part of three book deal of cozy mysteries featuring marketing gal gone Jill-of-all-trades, Dana Lewis. In addition to the Blossom Valley series, Staci maintains an active blog and website at:

You can keep tabs on when her next book, “All Natural Murder” is due to shelves near you and even gain a few organic tips!

First, a huge thank you to the author herself for taking the time to share her experiences and insights with us. Staci, I really enjoyed your first book, “Going Organic Can Kill You” and I am looking forward to reading your forthcoming sequel.

Book One of the Blossom Valley Series!

– How did you choose your pen name? Are you writing under your real or an altered name? Why so? What happens if Julia Roberts stars in a movie from one of your books and you become a household name?

I currently write under my own name. I’m so excited to finally have my book published that I want everyone in the world to know that I wrote it! If I were to write another mystery series that is completely different from the Blossom Valley series, then I would definitely consider a pen name. I would want readers to approach the book with fresh eyes and know that it was something totally new. And if, by some miracle, I become a household name, I could always move to a nice rural area in Maine like Stephen King. Oh, to dream…

– Wilbur seems to an ode to the childhood classic, “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White. What are some of your favorite childhood books? Which books do you feel your own children should read, whether these books were your personal favorites or not?

I loved “Charlotte’s Web,” along with “Black Beauty,” “Island of a Blue Dolphin,” and the entire Three Investigators series. I would like my kids to read all sorts of books, from Twain’s classics to “The Wind in the Willows.” It’s interesting because I have two boys, so the books that I loved as a child, such as “Little House on the Prairie,” may not generate the same level of interest for them. But as long as they read something, even comic books or the back of the shampoo bottle, I’ll be happy.

– You just brought back a childhood memory, I loved “The Three Investigators,” too! It seems like perhaps you, like Dana, are not completely convinced that the path to organic is necessarily the path to happiness. Has there been anything that you tried in your research that you enjoyed? On the other side, what was the worst tasting thing you tried?

I’ve tried quite a few organic chocolates that were very tasty. You can’t go wrong with chocolate. On the flip side, I think the worst thing I’ve tried is wheat grass. The taste was surprisingly mild, much like green tea, but I don’t even like pulp in my orange juice, so the little bits of grass that got stuck in my throat really didn’t go down easily. Literally!

– Someone, please cover Wilbur’s ears… my own writing critique group is named the Beer and Bacon Babes… bacon is kind of a thing for us. How do you like you bacon best? More than one way is fine 🙂

I can’t think of any way that I don’t like my bacon (sorry, Wilbur). Bacon cheese dogs, bacon burgers, BLTs, breakfast sandwiches–you name it, I like it. I made this thing called pig candy once that was so delicious. You roll the bacon in brown sugar and then cook it in the oven. All this bacon talk makes me want to go cook some right now.

– Wait a second, you can’t bring up something as delish-sounding as Pig Candy and not tell us how to make it! Details, Staci, we need details! Can you share the recipe?

Absolutely! The Pig Candy recipe comes from The Sweet Potato Queens’ Big-Ass Cookbook, and it’s ridiculously easy. You take however many strips of bacon you want and and roll them in dark brown sugar until they’re coated. Then you put all the slices on a rack on a cookie sheet and place the cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for about twenty minutes or until the bacon is as crispy as you like it. That’s it!

– Note to self, make Pig Candy as soon as humanly possible. Back to your book, it sounds like Blossom Valley would be somewhere outside of Ukiah. I love that area, my family and I vacationed every year at La Trianon on Blue Lakes, about six miles outside Ukiah. Did you have any special memories of the area that let you to set your books there? Memories of Mendocino or Lake Counties?

Even though it’s grown quite a bit, Ukiah still has a great small-town feel to it. Growing up, I’d roller skate all around our neighborhood or walk to the corner store for candy. I didn’t really appreciate it at the time, but looking back, it was a wonderful place to grow up and seemed like a good spot to set a murder. You don’t typically see that type of violence in a small community, so it’s a nice contrast. Also, my grandmother had a small pear orchard in Lake County, where I spent a lot of time. She also grew her own corn, tomatoes, and zucchini, and that might be where the farm element in my books came from.

– Are there any elements to your characters that are drawn from your real life, people you know? Any harmless anecdotes you can share?

None of my characters are based on one specific person. Instead, each character is a combination of several people. I might take certain mannerisms from one family member and physical attributes from another. Still, my mom’s friend got quite upset when she discovered that Dana’s father had died before the book even opens. She felt horrible for my own dad, even though he’s alive and well.

– What was the moment? When did you decide, hey, I can write a story? When did you believe and how can others believe in themselves?

I worked for a number of years as a technical writer, and one of my coworkers was always working on one fiction project or another. He’d helped run a short story magazine and was writing a horror trilogy and working on short stories, and he spoke with such passion that it got me thinking about writing fiction myself. I started with a short story, and when that got published, I moved up to National Novel Writing Month. When I looked back at what I’d written, I realized it wasn’t half bad and that maybe I had a future with fiction writing. I think anyone who has a passion for writing should believe in themselves. The publishing world has a high rate of rejection (something I have a lot of experience with), but that doesn’t mean the person isn’t a good writer. It simply means that the editor or agent wasn’t looking for that particular thing at that particular moment. It’s important to keep trying.

– While, you are certainly not the same, everyone wonders: how much of you is in Dana? Better yet, how much of your ideal man is in Jason?

I’m fairly similar to Dana. Since I’m writing in the first person, my beliefs and viewpoints kind of leak into my writing. Jason definitely has some traits that he shares with my ideal man. He’s smart, dependable, and supportive. I ended up writing him as a guy that I could bring home to Mom – Dana’s and my own. Oh, and he’s cute!

– I love that you use everyday California need-to-knows to help solve your mystery. Your writing certainly displays a love of California. There are so many stereotypes of our state… what would Dana, as a marketing person, love to tell people about California that they might not know?

California has a lot more to offer than Hollywood and the beach (although those are definitely fun places). The Sierras are a beautiful place to visit, particularly this time of year when the leaves change color. You can visit former gold mines and old railroad towns. Dana would also be sure to tell people about the vast agricultural regions in California, especially in the Central Valley, and suggest everyone stop by the orchards that allow you to pick your own fruit.

– Dana seems to just be getting her legs under her at O’Connell Organic Farm and Spa, how will things change, or NOT change in the next book… or two?

Conditions on the farm definitely reflect the current economy. Even though parts of the town are showing signs of recovery, reservation rates at the farm are still inconsistent in the second book, and Dana and the rest of the staff are trying to think up ways to boost business. To add to the mix, Dana is trying to clear her sister of a potential murder charge, and she spends so much time on solving the murder that it impacts her job performance. Let’s see if she still has a job in the third book…

– Will Ashlee ever find true love? (C’mon, I had to ask!) Or, will she be on Jerry Springer?

Ha! You know, that could be a great plot for one of my books. Ashlee could get pregnant and go on a talk show for one of those paternity tests but then her baby’s daddy gets murdered. Hmm…

Seriously, though, it might be a while before Ashlee finds true love. She’s young and independent but still likes to be taken out on a date and treated like a princess. For her, it’s fun to meet new guys and go on adventures. Some day, I’m sure she’ll be ready to settle down.

– In your path to becoming a published author: what was the best move you made? What is the one thing you wish you could do differently? How so?

Hands down, my best move was joining a critique group. It’s hard to keep perspective when you’re writing for only yourself. It’s so easy to start adding in too many metaphors and flowery language or trying out a new plot twist that makes no sense. My critique group does a great job of pinpointing awkward phrases or letting me know when something isn’t working. They’re also quick to point out things they like. As for what I would have done differently, I was going to say that I wouldn’t have been in such a rush to submit my book to those early agents before it was ready or maybe joined a critique group sooner, but I think those things were all part of the journey to publication. I’ve learned a lot along the way, and I hope that’s made me a better writer.

Staci, if this book is any indication, then mission accomplished. Your writing reads like a movie playing in my head, I can see it all. Here’s to many more entertaining tales for you to tell, starting with your forthcoming “All Natural Murder.”

As I mentioned in last week’s blog on the fantastic Carole Price, we have three more Trivalley Mystery Authors to interview and enjoy! This week I need to thank multiple award-winning author, Ann Parker, for taking the time to share her thoughts and enthusiasm on her books, the publishing world and the wild, wild west that was the Silver Rush in Colorado during the 1880’s.

I met Ann on an appearance at Towne Center Books in Pleasanton during her Murder in the Valley Book Tour with fellow authors Carole Price, Staci McLaughlin and Penny Warner. This tour still has dates coming up, so if you live locally this is a can-do, must-do event!

– Of all the places in the world, Leadville? What about this place first drew your attention to it?
I came to Leadville through family history… and pretty late in life, actually! It turns out my paternal grandmother was raised in Leadville. The strange thing is, although she told us grandkids many a tale of her life as a young married woman in Denver, she NEVER mentioned Leadville to us at all. It was my Uncle Walt who told me this tidbit of family information. I’d never heard of Leadville, but my uncle described it with such enthusiasm (“It was a h-ll of a place! One of the great mining centers of the world! A huge silver rush back in the 19th century!” etc. etc.) that I became intrigued. Uncle Walt then told me: “I know you’ve been thinking about writing a novel. I think you should research Leadville and write a novel set there.” So I did. Not quite as easy as that, but it was the impetus that got me going. Once I started reading about Leadville and its background, I was entranced. I staked my claim in Leadville, and the rest, you might say, is history!

Book One of the Silver Rush Mystery Series- Silver Lies

– I have just finished Silver Lies, which I adored, and I am thrilled to see that you have THREE more in the series in print. How many books do you envision for the series? Will they all feature Inez Stannert?

Well, I don’t envision a set number of books… I intend to just keep writing until I run out of time or energy or both! At this point, I’m focused on Inez and her situation (which becomes ever more complicated as the series progresses). I have toyed with the idea of eventually writing a Silver Rush novel from the point of view of Doc Cramer or Susan Carothers. Or even jumping forward in time, twenty or so years, and writing one from the point of view of Inez’s son. As noted, it just depends on my time and energy.

Book Two of the Silver Rush Mystery Series- Iron Ties

– Your novels are a fascinating mix of real life and fictional characters. As a writer, what is more fun: creating your own characters or taking the opportunity to play with real people in your stories?

Thank you, Erika! Ooooo, that’s a difficult one to answer. Since the core characters are all fictional, I suppose that’s where my heart lies. But I do enjoy researching the real people of the times and working them into the storyline, as appropriate. I can get very obsessed about some of them, almost becoming a “stalker of the past,” in trying to uncover who they were and what they were like.

Book Three of the Silver Rush Mystery Series- Leaden Skies

– Which of the real life characters of the Colorado Silver Rush of the 1880’s most fascinates you? Why?

I hope I don’t have to pick just one! I’m fascinated, in general, by the women of the times. People like Mattie Silks, one of the famous Denver madams of the late 1800s. Augusta Tabor, who was Horace Tabor’s first wife. (Horace Tabor was one of the most famous “silver kings” of Leadville… he had a rags-to-riches-to-rags story that is almost mythical in nature.) I’m particularly intrigued by Mrs. Anna Galbreaith, who I stumbled across in my research for the fourth book in the series, MERCURY’S RISE. Mrs. Galbreaith was a photographer in Manitou Springs in the 1880s. There’s very little I could find out about her, although I did procure one of her cabinet cards of Manitou Springs. As for the men, I think Bat Masterson is a fascinating character: This is someone who successfully “morphed” from the Wild West of the 19th century into the Urban East in the 20th century, from buffalo hunter to lawman to professional gambler to fight promoter to sports writer… and not always on the right side of the law throughout this time span. He died in New York, in 1921, slumped over his typewriter at his desk.

Book Four of the Silver Rush Mystery Series- Mercury’s Rise

– Your protagonist, Inez, is one amazing woman who does not seem to suffer fools gladly. I know you mentioned you drew inspiration from your own sister, but are there any traits that you share with Inez?

Inez and I share a love of classical music. However, I only listen. She plays.

– I think your books would make an amazing television series or mini series. Dreaming big here, who would you cast as Abe? Inez? Handsome Rev. Sands? And I have to ask, Harry Gallagher?

I’ll cross my fingers for that! As for casting, perhaps you can answer that better than I. When I first started writing the series, back in the late 1990s, I thought Morgan Freeman might make a good Abe. I always pictured Inez as looking like my maternal grandmother. (I gave Inez my paternal grandmother’s name, and my maternal grandmother’s looks. She was, by all accounts and from the photos I have, quite a looker and had gorgeous long dark hair that she would wind up in a knot, per the fashion of the days.) As for the rest of the crew, I’m stumped. I’d love to know what your “picks” would be…

– Your writing has a gritty, even dark slant to it in places, which adds to the suspense and the vividness of the action. Have you ever thought of writing a different genre, or even a different type of mystery? What would it be and why?

I would love to try my hand at steampunk “on the dark side.” I enjoy the books I’ve read in the genre. Steampunk (for those who haven’t heard of it before) usually incorporates the Victorian Era, technology (of the steam era), and science fiction/alternate history (check the wikipedia entry for more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk ) . It combines a number of elements I love, including science, science fiction, and history. Lots of leather, brass, and glass. A funny thing: as a young teen, one of my favorite TV shows was the Wild Wild West, which (as it turns out) is often cited as one of the earliest mainstream examples of steampunk-ery.

– What sort of writing do you admire the most? Who are your favorite authors?

I love writing that takes me to other places and times such that the outside world “disappears.” This magical moment happens less and less these days, as I tend to read novels with a more critical/analytical eye than I did before (one of the casualties of becoming a fiction writer!). One of my favorite contemporary authors is Martin Cruz Smith. Other writers I admire include William Shakespeare, John Milton, W.B. Yeats, and T.S. Eliot (lingering faves from my long-ago college days). I also love Sandra Dallas’ writing… she creates marvelous, evocative historical novels, many of which take place in Colorado http://sandradallas.com/ .

– If you could share one overlooked or little known author with the world, who would it be and why? (No fair using anyone from your critique group- we already know they’re wonderful. Besides, how could you pick just one?)

– What is your favorite aspect of the writing process? Marketing? Editing? Creating? What makes it your favorite?

Researching! I love the serendipity of research. I might be trotting in one direction, looking up information about some specific topic, and then stumble into a gem that ends up being a key part of the story I’m creating. I have to be very firm with myself about putting the research aside and getting down to the business of writing.

– “Serendipity” is one of my favorite words, Ann. What skills, other than the ability to spin a good yarn, do you believe writers today could benefit from developing?

Stamina. Persistence. Manners (? Is that a skill?). Having marketing skills—particularly being proficient with online/social media—also seems to be a HUGE plus in today’s world.

– Do you have any words of wisdom for other writers? For example, perhaps things NOT to do?

Don’t diss other writers, agents, or publishers. It’s a small world, and that sort of talk gets around.

– What do you think your readers would be most surprised to know about you in your private life?

Readers of SILVER LIES would probably be surprised to learn that we have pet rats here at the homestead. Two of them. Mushi and Chewbacka are, of course, very sweet and tame… nothing like the wild rats one finds in the back alleys or the Silver Queen Saloon!

Ann in front of a map of her beloved Leadville, CO.

Ann, you are amazing, just like your books! Thank you for your time and all the wonderful insights into your work. I shall be reading your remaining books with glee!

Incidentally, as to casting, hmmm, I admit, it’s a tough question. I had thought Danny Glover for Abe, and I toy with the idea of Jennifer Connelly as Inez. Renee Zellweger is not my favorite actress, but, I wonder, she’s a good character actress, maybe as Mattie Silks? I like Kevin Spacey for Gallagher, so hard to tell if he is a good guy or a bad guy. He’ll need to play against type as Inez needs to have fallen for him, if only briefly. He’d have to display a charming streak. Lastly, what about Christian Bale for Sands? He’s pretty, he’s young, but he plays tough characters. I realize this is taking terrible liberties with your creations, Ann, so feel free to cringe, or even throw something!

Thank you, again!!!

Ann’s books are available from your independent book store, through her publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Large print is also available.Alright, readers, be sure to check out next week’s mystery writer, also from Livermore (there must be something in the water there), Staci McLaughlin!!!

Last week my writers’ critique group, The Beer & Bacon Babes (aka The BBB’s), had a night out at Towne Center Books on Main Street in Pleasanton. We were there because four fabulous LOCAL authors were doing a book signing. Well, honey, you put four great mystery authors, wine and chocolate at a book store in front of me and my friends? It’s just like we’ve died and gone to heaven.

Photo by Amy Moellering, used with permission from Towne Center Books.

As four very different, but equally intelligent and engaging ladies began sharing their stories with us I knew a.) I needed to read them all and b.) you had to meet them. Ladies & Gentlemen of my blogging universe allow me to introduce: Carole Price, Ann Parker, Staci McLaughlin and Penny Warner. Lady Authors, please meet… everyone. It’s clear that this sort of intro won’t do anyone any justice so… Ergo, these interviews. I will be interviewing each of these authors in turn weekly because that is just how amazing they all are.

This week we’ll be meeting Carole Price, the author of Twisted Vines. This is Carole’s first published novel and the beginning to a wonderful new cozy mystery series, The Shakespeare in the Vineyard Mysteries. I read Twisted Vines in a day. Imagine a beautiful, but independent-minded crime analyst, our heroine Caitlyn Pepper who has just inherited a fortune from an aunt she has never heard of, let alone met. Now picture that maybe not everyone is happy about Cait’s inheritance, and maybe didn’t care for the aunt either… It was a page turner full of vivid and complex characters, action, twists, a dash of romance and just right amount of danger. I highly recommend it.

Author, police volunteer, hiker, mother and wife- she does it all!

So let’s find out a bit more about Carole Price…

– Sorry to go for the obvious question, but where did the idea of Shakespeare in the Livermore Valley come from?

A. When our daughter, Carla, moved to Ashland, Oregon, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, I started attending many of the plays. I fell in love with the Bard. I signed on for a back stage tour and thought how fun it would be to bring Shakespeare to the Livermore Valley, create my own festival, and toss in a few bodies.

– What other places in the TriValley do you love and might possible pop up in future books?

A. I hope to feature more at Las Positas College. Cait needs to venture out more, probably to Pleasanton. Although not in the Tri Valley area, I have an idea for a book in Niles/Fremont where there’s a fun silent film museum.

– Do you have a guilty pleasure spot in Livermore? You know, something off the diet, a spa or maybe a nail salon? Some place that you can spoil yourself just a bit?

A. Not really. I do hike almost every week in the hills in and around Livermore. I get inspiration from that and take tons of pictures.

– Did you research this book? How so? What was your favorite part of this learning process?

A. I arranged to talk with someone from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival about their actors, i.e., their education, experience, etc. I bought lots of books and materials from their gift shop and used the Internet to research weapons from that era. To learn about police procedures, I went through Livermore’s Citizen Police Academy and am an active police volunteer. I role play with the SWAT team, work at events (Livermore rodeo, festivals, etc.), and have a “regular” weekly volunteer job. The officers have been great answering my questions.

– Your main character, Cait, is a dynamic, vibrant woman. What is your favorite quality about her?

A. Cait’s integrity and honesty runs deep. She’s a good friend.

– I love Cait’s name, Caitlyn Tilson Pepper. How did you chose your protagonist’s name? Did you think of it or did the character sort of simply “be” the name?

A. I love her name too. I wanted a name easy to remember and easy to pronounce. My daughter had a friend named Caitlyn. Tilson is the middle name of a San Francisco symphony conductor. Pepper just came to me.

– As your series develops, can you give us a hint as to how Caitlyn may change as she comes into her inheritance and leaves her law enforcement background behind? Or do you ever leave that kind of experience behind?

A. Good question. I’m told that once a cop, always a cop. Cait struggles with this as she works with a detective from the Livermore PD to solve crimes that affect her or her Shakespeare festival. She’s impatient when told to let the police do their job, that she’s no longer a cop. But Cait has changed. She’s come to terms with family secrets. She’s taking viticulture classes at the local college and will become involved with Livermore’s wine associations. And she may learn to love again.

– Okay, I have to ask, as any woman would, will we see hunky R.T. again? And, is he based on anyone in real life? (Please say yes!)

A. I love RT. He’s a keeper. He’s a composite of traits I like, and I did a little Internet research on Navy SEALS. He had to be organized, cynical, anti-social at times, a private person, and a thinker. And, of course, hunky. The name Royal Tanner just popped into mind as a strong name with character. I did have a friend with the last name of Tanner.

– Did you always want to be a writer? What led you to this path?

A. Sorry, I wish I could say I always wanted to write. But I am an avid reader, particularly mysteries, and thought it would be fun to create my own story. I didn’t start writing until I retired. I met an author at a book signing who encouraged me to write. When she invited me to join her critique group, I jumped at the opportunity.

– It comes up in almost every interview, but, the question remains, you’ve achieved your dream, what words of wisdom do you have for the writers trying to make it today?

A. Don’t give up. Write every day. I had lots of rejections on my first (still unpublished) book. I used to think all I had to do was sit behind my computer and make up stuff. Not so. Join a critique group and attend conferences. Sign up for a writing workshop. Be involved.

– I know you rely on your critique group for solid feedback, would you recommend a critique group to other writers? What do you like best about your group? (No fair saying lunch!)

A. Absolutely. Twisted Vines would never have been published if not for my critique group. We meet every Friday to discuss our books, conferences, the world of publishing, and social media. We give positive feedback. We support each other and celebrate our successes.

– While I would never ask for spoilers to your forthcoming sequel, Sour Grapes, can you give us any hint on what Cait may be facing next time around?

A. Cait was a police officer before becoming a crime analyst. An unpleasant situation during her years as a cop comes back to haunt her. Sorry, but any more would give it away.

– I am ready NOW for the sequel, when can we buy it?

A. Ha. I hope Five Star will offer me a contract for Sour Grapes after I send them a synopsis. That should be soon since I only have two more chapters of the first draft left to write. I know my publisher is pleased with my promotional efforts. And I just learned that Twisted Vines will come out in large print in January 2013.

– Finally, I am a wine drinking gal. Please dish, what is your favorite Livermore Valley wine? It’s okay if you have more than one!

A. I’m a tea drinker, but I do like Wente wines and only white.

Carole, I’m partial to Earl Grey myself. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your craft and your characters with us today. We’ll all be looking forward to Sour Grapes!

To purchase Twisted Vines I always encourage people to call your local independent bookseller, like our own Towne Center Books at 555 Main Street, Pleasanton 925-846-8826. However, failing that, Carole’s book is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

You can keep up with the latest Shakespeare in the Valley Mystery by checking out Carole’s website: